Miller didn’t sell signature; Delany cautions Buckeyes

The big cheese from the Big Ten could not have timed his visit to Ohio State better. With news breaking about an NCAA investigation into whether Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel was paid for autographs, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney spoke to the Buckeyes before Wednesday’s practice.

The big cheese from the Big Ten could not have timed his visit to Ohio State better. With news breaking about an NCAA investigation into whether Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel was paid for autographs, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany spoke to the Buckeyes before Wednesday’s practice.

His message was one of caution.

And sure enough, Buckeye quarterback Braxton Miller was asked by Ohio State’s athletic department about items he signed that are listed on eBay. OSU Athletics Director Gene Smith told the Associated Press there are no issues with Miller and he was not paid for the autographs. Ironically, many of the items listed on eBay were signed during the Big Ten’s media conference in Chicago last month.

“I told them they had a great opportunity and a privilege, and they were all dependent upon each other,” Delany said. “To be at Ohio State, in the Big Ten and play at this level with this amount of coverage is an opportunity, but it’s also something that requires people to be on their tip toes with the responsibility they have to their families, their teammates and their coaches.”

Ohio State, which went 12-0 last year during a bowl ban season, is still on NCAA probation. Ohio State officials seem confident Miller is in the clear and did not receive money for signing.

It is not certain if Manziel did, either. Texas A&M has limited commenting on the situation as the NCAA continues to investigate a story that ESPN originally broke. ESPN was tipped to the Manziel situation because of the amount of items listed on eBay for sale.

A search of eBay with “Braxton Miller,” “signed,” and “Ohio State” shows 191 items for sale.

Delany said he didn’t know specifics of Manziel’s situation. However, the popularity of college football, combined with media coverage and social media is bringing more violations to light, and it isn’t, perhaps, that players are violating rules more.

“Human nature probably hasn’t changed much,” Delany said. “I think the (media) coverage of human nature has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. We went from one of local and regional (coverage) to one that’s national, one that had three national networks, to all the networks, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Young people, and old people, have to conform their conduct because more and more is public.”

Delany stressed the facts of the Manziel investigation are not out, and he hasn’t made a judgment.

“In a lot of situations, it’s sometimes a half-inch deep and four miles wide,” Delany said. “You guys have a job to do, which is to cover things that are interesting for the public. The public is passionate about college football. ... I think what we’re seeing is a convergence of a passionate fan base, uber coverage and human beings making mistakes. I don’t get too carried away with it.”

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The Manziel investigation comes at an interesting time for the NCAA. It is being sued by former college basketball player Ed O’Bannon, as well as current and former college football and basketball players suing the NCAA for antitrust violations by using their likeness in perpetuity with EA Sports and others. The suit could reach class-action status and expose the NCAA to hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Congress has introduced an NCAA Accountability Act as well. It could open the door for stipends to college players.

“Those issues will be sorted out by the courts, and ultimately Congress,” Delany said.

Meanwhile, the commissioner expressed his pleasure with the way Ohio State has rebounded from its own scandal. The Buckeyes are the preseason No. 2 team in the country in the coaches’ poll. Ohio State and Alabama are the Las Vegas odds on favorite to play for a national title.

“Ohio State is not only stabilized, it’s on a strong trajectory forward,” Delany said. “The case was an unfortunate case. People made mistakes. .... They have a new coach in coach (Urban) Meyer who’s been successful every place he’s been. The leadership there is powerful, and the Buckeyes, I’m sure, have high expectations for themselves.”